New Swim App Reports Local Beach Conditions

August is fast approaching, a popular month to head to the beach with sun block, beach towels, umbrellas and sand toys. Think of the disappointment, however, at arriving at a beach and finding a notice indicating the water is not safe for swimming that day. Now there's a new tool available to learn about the beach conditions before you head out.

The Swim Guide Smart Phone App, launched Thursday, July 26, in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, reports beach conditions, and it also searches for the closest beaches and offers directions. Swim Guide is a free app, available for iOS and Android devices, funded by donations from beach enthusiasts who want to enjoy their local bodies of water safely, as well as a grant from the RBC Blue Water Project.

"Every year, millions of people get sick from coming into contact with polluted water at their local beaches," said Pete Nichols, National Director for the Waterkeeper Alliance, in a statement. "The Swim Guide provides a free, easy to use, way for beach goers to find a beach where their families can swim and enjoy the beach safely."

The home screen of the app is a beach list. Users can select a beach like Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison from the list and check out the beach's conditions. Sources are provided to inform users which monitoring authorities have reviewed the beach. An image gallery and description of the beach informs users that the beach has a boardwalk, nature center, boat launch, camping, swimming and fishing. Users can "check-in" at the beach once they've arrived.

Users can compare current and historical water quality information for many beaches, and the app uses Google Maps to help users find directions to the nearest beach. Users can also bookmark their favorite beaches and share their beach adventures through Facebook and Twitter with photos.

Every beach is color-coded based on its current status. Green means the beach is open, red means the beach is "posted," which means local monitoring authorities believe there is a health risk to swimmers, and gray means the status of the beach is unavailable or unreliable. One of the most unique and helpful features the Swim Guide app provides users with is the ability to report pollution or environmental issues that they might see during their visit. These reports are all made known to the beaches' authorities.

Released last year, Swim Guide provides information on over 2,500 beaches throughout North America, including descriptions and panoramic photos along with water quality information to help beach-goers determine if the water is safe for swimming. The app uses regularly updated water quality data from about 90 different beach monitoring sources including government authorities.